Strip working apparatus



y 1947. R. L. HALLMAN 2,423,698

STRIP WORKING APPARATUS Filed Sept. 12, 1944 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 24 2a 26 a I 22b I I5 I L F- l 25 m N r' i\ \fi rm IO 42" D ATTORNEYS July 8, 1947. v HALLMAN 2,423,698

' STRIP WORKING APPARAT-US Filed Sept. 12, 1944 5 Sheets-Sheet s INVENTOR B 7' Z @Q 5 ATTORNEYS Patented July 8, 194'? STRIP WORKING APPARATUS Rex L. Hallman, Milford, Conn., assignor of thirty per cent to John W. Hallman, Devon,

Conn.

Application September 12, 1944, Serial No. 553,785

I 19 Claims. 7 1

This invention relates to apparatus for performing operations on continuous strip material, and more particularly to a machine for cutting, punching, imprinting or otherwise altering a continuous strip of material while the latter is emerging from a source of supply.

An object of the present invention i to provide a simple automatic machine which is positive in operation, for working long continuous strip material. This is accomplished by a combination of conveyor mechanism and tool mechanism arranged to cooperate in a novel manner so that the handling and working of the strip material is done simultaneously, the working or altering of the strip being carried out by repeating or sequentially occurring operation of the tool mechanism, the latter being controlled by the conveyor mechanism in a manner that perfect synchronism between the two is always assured. The conveyor mechanism also cooperates with the tool mechanism to provide a supporting or platen means for enabling such operations as shearing, punching and the like to be carried out while the strip material is in motion. Thus a continuous supply of material emerging from a rolling mill, extruding die or the like may be handled and Worked on before its final disposition without extra handling operations, or additional time being required.

In the embodiments of the invention illustrated herein, the conveying mechanism includes a conveyor belt which is provided with spaced blocks on which the strip material is supported. The blocks have arms for operating a carriage carrying a knife so that the latter is caused to periodically out the strip, travel with it, and then return to an initial startin position, the cycle being maintained in synchronism with the movement and location of the blocks on the conveyor belt. By spacing the blocks uniformly and adjusting the speed of the conveyor so that it approximates that of the strip emerging from the source of supply, a close control of the severing of the strip may be obtained.

According to one specific form of the invention the blocks on the conveyor belt have side extensions which function as track segments, which support the carriage and knife during portions of the conveyor movement. The carriage is pivotally and slidably mounted so that it may move substantially vertically as well as travel in the direction of the conveyor movement. The arrangement is such that when the ends of one set of track segments are reached the carriage will drop, causing the knife to sever a section of the strip material, the carriage then travelling with the conveyor and strip and being automatically raised during such travel by separate inclined track means to cause the knife to become disengaged from the strip. Thereupon the carriage i supported by the next set of track segments and automatically returned by spring means to its initial starting position in readiness for repeating the cutting operation, and the severed section of the strip material is carried off by the conveyor to a take-off point. The knife and carriage are therefore actuated by the conveyor, so that synchronism of the carriage and conveyor mechanism is obtained. If desired, a plurality of knives may be mounted in tandem on the carriage to sever more than one section of the strip during each cycle of carriage movement, or a knife and punch or imprinting device may be arranged to operate conjointly on the strip,

In another specific form of the invention, the blocks of the conveyor are provided with tripping arms adapted to operate latches for releasing the knife and carriage for severing the strip. In this form, the carriage is mounted on vertical and horizontal pairs of parallel slides arranged to provide free and unbinding movement, the carriage and knife travelling with the conveyor and strip after they have dropped to sever a section of the latter, and raising automatically by means of stationary inclined tracks during such travel to disengage the knife from the strip. The return of the carriage to its initial position is accomplished by spring means and stationary horizontal tracks on which latter the carriage travels in an elevated position. According to this form of the invention the tripping blocks may be conveniently repositioned in diiferent locations on the conveyor belt to change the length of sections severed from the continuous strip of material.

Where a comparatively heavy machine structure is required to perform heavier operations, an additional power drive for the carriage is also provided, separate from the conveyor system, for causing the carriage when in dropped position to travel with the conveyor belt at substantially the speed of the latter. The operation of this separate power drive is automatic, being controlled in a novel manner by the conveyor, so that the synohronism between the conveyor platen mechanism and cycles of operation of the carriage is maintained. Also in this specific form of the invention, a shear bar is provided, interposed between the strip supporting structure of the conveyor and the strip material being carried thereby at the point where the cutting knife 3 severs the strip material, the bar cooperating with the knife to provide a closely controllable shearing action.

Other features and advantages will hereinafter appear.

In the accompanying drawings- Figure 1 is an axial vertical section of a machine, illustrating one-form of the invention.

Fig. 2is a top or plan View of the 'machine of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a view similar to Fig. l, but showing the cutting knife released and about to-sever the strip material. r

Fig. 4 is a view similar to'Fig. 3,;but W lL the knife separated from the strip after severing same.

F 5 is an a al t eal' seetihh pie ma:

chine, illustrating another form of the invention.

Fig. 6 is a top or plan View of the machine of Fig. 5.

Fig. 7 is a-rragmentary sectional view illustrating a-car'rier' for threeikniv'es mounted intandem.

' Fig.8 is a fragmentary sectional view showing a carrier mounting a knifeand' punch for .conjoint -operation, and

. Fig.9 is a circuit diagram of thecontrol systern-for the carriage power drive.

The machine-' illustrated in Figs. 1 through 4 comprises anendless conveyor-belt H] which may be of canvas, woven wiremesh or other suitable material travelling generally in a horizontal direction from left to right and being supported alongat leasta par-t'of its lengthby a conveyor slider bed H. The belt 1-0 has fastened thereto a plurality ofspaced blocks [2, which --may' be secured to thebelt by suitable belts or brackets (not shown); :the "block serving as a supporting surface foracontin-uous strip of material fl3 which may be of'plastic impregnated cloth,=metal or the ik Th str a al 13 i e t the n-- veyqrbeltil'll froma source of supply (not shown) whichmaytbe a rolling mill; extruding die, 'or upp roll; h "We gh .ef h str p on t conve er pr v lin sumeie r ti n. at the s r ace Q th "b ocks 1 2 so'thatthestrip wi l" trave w th h .CQIW Y I belt" with su ta tiall no slippa h speed o z he e t LLB e n ad usted to. app ximatdy equal t espeedof m rgence o t e strip 13 from its supply.

For cQOPeration with the conveyor belt 1,0 and blocksjlz, a tool controlmechanism [4. is pro ded havin a fram w rk e mp e pa s o stationary forward uprights I and rear uprights 1.6,,- theluprigh'ts of each' pair being. disposed on oppositess'ide of. the belt '10. "The uprights, .I5 and .Il.6.are connected together by. pairs .of ,horizontal slide bars .lfland l8, which slidably carry fittings l9 and respectively. The fittings l9 and 20 at each side .of the-conveyor belt Ill are respectively connected together by vertical slide bars .2 I whichcarry sleeveiZ-secured to opposite sides Qof a gateor carriage 2-3. According to this construction, the carriage 2 3amay be moved between limits vertically, and also horizontally. along the direction of the 'movement.

Forthepurpose of..severing the strip {L3 into secti0ns,-the carriage .23 is provided with axdownwarclly extended knife 24 adapted to span the strip I 3 and sever the latter when the carriage s-d eh ed f om an ini al reis dyes t ene cooperation with the rkniie 24 ashear bar is p e edrm uh ed h zm ah brackets 6 on h r ard u r hts 5, th a exte dihsh tween th stri 1. ehdth bl cks t at th 'QDIWW I belt adjacent the point where the knife 24 severe the strip.

To provide for automatic synchronized operation of the carriage 23 and knife 24 in response to movement of the conveyor belt Ill, certain of the blocks 2 at equally spaced intervals along the belt have upwardly extending arms H11, and latches 2'1 mounted on brackets 21a secured to the-uprights 15" are provided, -to be operated by the arms l2a.

As shown in Fig. 1 the carriage sleeves 22 have brackets 29 secured thereto, carrying rollers 29a,

the latter being supported at the ends of levers i930 which...arepivotally mounted on stationary frames 3l. "The -other ends of the levers 30 are engaged by theupper hooked ends 27b of the latches 2 'l ,.so that.th e levers are normally maintained horizontal and are prevented from clock- .wise' turning movement. However, when the latches 27 are operatedto move counterclockwise inres ponse to. movementof the-belt =|,0-.f rQm;1eft t r g r he upper-h ok d ends 2 cf th la ches willbecome disengaged fromthelevers .3050 that the latter are released, and as a resultof y l2h 8 weight and pressureof the carriage 2-3Qthe d5 of the levers will be pushed-aside and.thercarriage willdrop andcause the-knife .24 to sever asection of the strip 13,.Eigs. 3-and4.

To cause the carriage and knife to travel-with the conveyorbeltlll andstrip J 3 aftera section pf .the latter has been severed, thesleeves -22.-are provided with arms 2 2a having rollers l2-2b..which are engaged .by the arms 12a of the-conveyor. Thus after thegcarriage 23r=ha been drQppe d,-.it will be caused-to travel with the conveyor belt Ill and strip I 3 due to the giriving foroe gexerted on the arms rugby the-arms 42a, ;Fig,u4. Also, the stationary frames 3| are provided-with 12inelihed t a s I a for n a ement wi h therellers 29c. so that when the "carriage 23 -is travelling with the conveyor it will be 1 automatically raised to a position whrein the rollers 221). clear the arms 1.2a driving the carriage. During this raisin g movement the knife 24' will become disengaged from the strip 13. Upon .-the rollers 22b clearing the-arms 12a, thecarriage 23 will be gfreeto return .to its initial or starting -position. return is accomplished by coil springs 32 carried:by the horizontal slide bars l1 and- .;l8 -At the beginning of the :returnmovement of the :carriage 23 the rollers 22b will ride on the topshrfhQGS of the arms 42a for :an extent until the rollers 29a engage horizontal tracks 31b carried by the frames 3|. Thereupon, the carriage-23 will be supported by th tra ks h nt l i 'reaehe 'its initial or starting "position, wherein its support will .again be assumed @by the :ends of .the-Jeyers 30, which latter havebeen automatically returned toitheirnormal.horizontalpositionsrby:coilsprings 30a, .-,and latched I in said ;positions by the latches 2,1. The horizontal positions-of the levers 30.;are determined by engagement of the latter with abutment portions Me of the frames 3i, which p ti s ve s a a n twhiehthesprines 30a ly e d he le e s ha-eehsnrin s 210 are .provided for restorin the latches 2;l. wtp their al r a pe tiehs nIi the latc s wh n v a enga ing .ah hnentrpert en 1d o heb a kets 4 9 ha ee. or supply ren-ir tialhnpe usio. the c rriage 3, eeinpress eh is i est 1. ma be pr vided 0n t e vertica slid bars. '3 1. .if such limp s stle ired er heavier op ations- Other- Wise; z h 'we eht oi the .c rriase 12-3 ma e :sufi nt' erw iehte epe a ien to flh lsfizt he er to .completely sever the strip [3. By the provisionlof the inclined tracks 3|a the carriage 23 and'knife 24 will be raised comparatively slowly afterseverance of the strip l3 so that likelihood of the cut portions of the strip raising with the knife are minimized.

According .to the above construction, the conveying and knife operating mechanisms of the machine co-function in. carrying the strip I 3 from its source of supply and automatically severing the'strip into sections while it i moving. Each time a pair of latch tripping arms |2a engage the latches 21, the latter will be caused to release the supporting levers 30, thereby permitting the carriage 23 and knife 24 to drop and sever a section of the strip l3. In severing the strip -|3, the knife 24 may cooperate with the shear bar 25, which latter may be adjustably mounted to permit close control of the shearing action. It will be noted that the sharp edgeof the knife 24 may extend into the space between two adjacent blocks l2 of the belt each time the latches21 are operated, since the location of the spaces between adjacent blocks |2 has a definite and fixed relation with respect to the latch tripping arms |2a. After descent of the carriage 23, it will be caused totravel with the conveyor belt l and blocks l2a under power supplied by the belt and transmitted through the arm I21; and 22a, the carriage meanwhile being automatically raised by the inclined tracks 3|a, and when a predetermined intermediateposition is reached the carriage will be automatically returned to its initial starting position.

It may be desired to gear the vertical slide bars 2| together to insure their moving simultaneously without binding, and for this purpose the lower fittings 20 may be provided with racks 32 engaging pinions 33 rigidly carried on a common shaft 34 journaled on the stationary frame 3|. Thus, slight inequalities of pressure exerted on the horizontally movable structure comprising the fittings I9, 20, and the bars 2|, as a result of slight misalignment of the arms 2a,, or of variations in the springs 32' will not cause binding of the slides.

Where heavy operations are to be performed, as on a strip l3 of substantial thickness or toughness which necessitates a strong and heavy carriage and slide structure therefor, the inertia of the parts might be sufficiently great to impose a considerable load on the conveyor belt l0 when the latter is at the point of picking up and travelling the carriage 23. Therefore, according to the present invention and referring to Fig. 2, a separate power drive means is provided for travelling the carriage and associated slide structure without requiring driving energy from the conveyor.

As shown, the shaft 34 is connected with a clutch 35 operated by a lever 36 and plunger 31 of a solenoid 38. The clutch 35 is rotatably driven by a gear 39 meshing with a pinion 40 in turn driven'by a variable speed transmission 4| powered from a gearhead electric motor 42. The solenoid 38 is connected in circuit with a normally-open limit switch 43 and relay 43a, Figs. 1, 2 and 9, the switch being operated by an arm 44 mounted on the carriage 23 to close the solenoid circuit when the carriage is dropped. When the solenoid and relay are energized, the clutch 35 is operated to become engaged, whereupon the motor 42, which may be running continuously, drives the shaft 34 and causes the carriage 23 to travel with the conveyor belt 10 and strip l3, the speed of travel of the carriage being made to approximate that of the belt by suitable adjustment of 2 the variable speed transmission 4|.

When the carriage during its travel has been raised to the intermediate position wherein the rollers 225 clear the arms |2a, the solenoid 38 is made to release the clutch 35. This is accomplished by the provision of a normally-closed limit switch 45 in the relay circuit, the switch being shown as carried by the frame 3| and operable by the bracket 29. When the switch 45 isoperated, the solenoid is deenergized, and the clutch disengaged, whereupon the carriage 23 will be free for return by the compression springs 32 to its initial or starting position.

Referring to Fig. 7, if desired the carriage 23 may be provided with a plurality of knives 24a mounted in 'a holder 46 which may be secured to the carriage 23 by screws as shown or other suitable means. The spacing between the knives 24a is such that the knives may simultaneously enter spaces between the blocks l2, so that the strip |3 may be severed into a plurality of sections during a single cycle of the carriage mechanism. A plurality of shear bars 25 may be provided, one for each knife 24a, Or the shear bars may be dispensed with where the material of the strip I3 permits. If desired, as shown in Fig. 8, the carriage 23 may be provided with a knife 24 and a punch 41 mounted in a carrier 48, so that the strip l3 may be severed and also perforated simultaneously. Or the punch 41 may be replaced by a stamping tool so that impressions may be imprinted on the strip l3 simultaneously with the performance of other operations.

A modification of the apparatus of the present invention is shown in Figs. 5 and 6. A conveyor belt 49 is provided with a plurality of spaced blocks '59, each of which carries individual spaced track segments 5|. A comparatively heavy carriage 52 mounting a knife 53 is carried by a pair of parallel bars 54, which latter are slidable in fittings 55 rotatably mounted on a transverse bar 56 carried by standards 51 at each side of the belt 49. The carriage 52 is thus mounted so that it may move substantially vertically with respect to the belt 49, and also travel horizontally with the latter after the knife 53 has severed a section of the strip I3. Normally, the carriage '52 is maintained in a raised or starting position by means of rollers 58 carried by brackets 59 secured to the carriage 52, the rollers riding on the track segments'5l. As the conveyor belt 49 moves from left to right, at intervals the rollers 58 are no longer supported, where they leave one set of segments and before they may be carried by the succeeding set of segments, so that the carriage 52 and knife 53 drop, thereby severing the strip l3. The rollers 58 are now engaged by the forward vertical surfaces of the succeeding pair of track segments 5|, so that the carriage 52 is driven horizontally and caused to travel with the belt 49 and strip |3. During its travel the carriage is automatically raised again by inclined tracks 60 mounted on stationary frames 6|, the tracks engaging rollers 62 carried by brackets 63 secured to the carriage '52. During the travel of the carriage 52 with the belt 49, the bars 54 will slide in the fittings 55 against a yielding force provided by compression springs 64. When the carriage 52 reaches an intermediate position wherein the rollers 58 are raised sufficiently to clear the driving surfaces of the track segments 5|, the carriage 52 will be free for return to its initial or starting position, this being automatic'ally accomplished by thecompressionsprings :64; and during .such returnthe carriage. is main.- tained in raised position: since the rollers .58 will "be riding on .the surfaceof'the succeeding set of track. segments l. This sequence :of operations is repeatedat intervals as determined by :the lengths of :the track segments.:5l, the sharp edge of the knife 53 enteringthe spaces between the blocks 58 during shearing of .the strip J3 toenable the. knife to completely severlthe strip. A platen .65 is provided underneath the conveyor belt 49 at the point where the cutting operations are performed to support .the belt, andthe blocks and tracks carried thereby. The initialor starting position of the icarriage'52 may .be adjusted by means :of collars tfizcarriedby therbars54 and .secured theretobymeans of set screws.

The-structure illustrated inFigs. 5 and 6 is par.- ticularly adapted for use where light operations are to be performed .on' 'strip material which :is .comparatively soft, as for instance a strip of plasgtic, or onmaterial of thin cross-section.

Variations and modifications may be made within the scope of this'invention and portions of the :improvementsmay be used Without others.

, I'claim:

1. Apparatus for cutting a strip of plastic material into pieces of desired size as the latter is fedfrorn a source of supply comprising conveyingrmeans for supporting and advancing the strip to feed the strip toand away from a cutting station; a cutter at the cuttingstation for cutting the strip supported by the "conveying means into sections; means :operable by the conveyor for automatically causing-the cutter to move from a :startingposition tocut the strip; means forcausing the cutter to -travel with the cut section carfrom a source of supply,-including a conveyor for carrying the strip away from the supply; a tool for performing operations on the strip; a carrier for the "tool; including a carriage mounted above the conveyor andmovalole both vertically and in the direction of conveyor movement; means opeera ble bythe conveyor for holding the carriage in araised-starting position and for dropping the carriage after the conveyor has moved. apredetermined amount, so that the .tool operates on the strip; means operative whenlthe carriage is dropped for travelling the :latter in the direction of conveyor movement; means :for automatically raising the carriage during its travel with the conveyor, to an intermediateposition wherein the tool. no longer engages the strip, the carriage at saidintermediate position ceasing totravel with the conveyor; and means for automatically returning the carriage to its starting position after its travel with the conveyor has ceased.

3. Apparatus for performing operations on a long strip of materialof indefinite length emerging' from a-source of supply, includinga conveyor for carrying the strip. away :from the supply; a tool for performing operations on the strip; a

carrierfor the tool, including a carriage mounted abovethe conveyor and movable. both vertically and m ths direction of conveyor movement; an arm connected to operatefrom the conveyor, for

holding the carriage in a raised.starting-position,

said. arm. operatingin response to movement of the conveyor a predetermined amount to release the carriage so that it and the tool may drop to cause the latterto operate :on the strip, thecarriage when. dropped beingtravelled by the conveyor in its direction of movement;.means for automatically. raisingthe .carriageduring its-travel withlthe conveyor, to a position wherein it is no longer caused to travel with the .conveyor; and means i'orautomatically returning the carriage to its starting position after its travel with the conveyor has ceased.

Apparatus for cutting a long strip of material of indefinite length emergingfroma source of supply, including aconveyor for carrying the strip away fromthe supply; a cutting tool; a carrier for the toolincluding a carriage mounted above the conveyor and movable both verticallyand in thedirectionof conveyor movement; means operable by theconveyor for holding the carriage in a raised starting position and forldropping the carriage after'the conveyor has moved a predetermined amount so that the toolcuts the strip,said carriage whendropped being travelled in the .direction ofconveyor movement; means ior automatically raising the carriage duringiits travel with the conveyor, to an intermediate position wherein the tool no longer engages the strip, the carriage at said intermediateposition ceasing to travel :with the conveyor; and means for automatically returning the carriage to its starting position after its travel with the conveyor has ceased.

5. Apparaus for performing repeated operations on a long strip of material of indefinite length-emerging from a source of supply, includinga continuous conveyor for carrying the strip awayiro-m the supply; a tool for performing operations on the strip; .a carrier for the tool, including a carriage mounted above the conveyor and movable both verticallyand in the direction of conveyor movement; a support for holding the carriage in a raised starting position; .means' carried by the conveyor for periodically engaging the support to cause operation of the latter during movement of the conveyor whereby the carriage is periodically dropped so that the tool carried has ceased.

6. Apparatus for performing operations .on a long strip of material of indefinite length emerging from a source of supply, including a conveyor forl carrying the strip away from the supply; a

plurality-oftools for-performing operations on the strip;.a carrier mounting said tools forconjoint operation, said carrier including a carriage mounted above the conveyor and movable both vertically and in the direction of conveyor.movement; meansloperable bythe conveyor forholding the carriage-inaraised starting positionand for dropping 'the carriage after the conveyorv has moved a pre determined amount, so that the tools ope ate on thestr-ip, said carriage when dropped beingltravelledfin the direction of conveyor "movement; means for automatically raising the carriage during its travel with the conveyor to an intermediate "position wherein 1 the tools no longer engage the strip, the carriage at said intermediate position ceasing to travel with the conveyor; and means for automatically returning the carriage to its starting position after its travel with the conveyor has ceased.

[Apparatus for performing operations on a long strip of material of indefinite length emerging from a source of supply, including a conveyor for carrying the strip away from the supply; a punch and a knife; a carrier mounting said punch and knife for conjoint operation, said carrier including a carriage mounted above the con- I veyor and movable both vertically and in the direction of conveyor movement; means operated by the conveyor for holding the carriage in a raised starting position and for dropping the carriage after the conveyor has moved a predetermined amount, so that the punch and knife operate on the strip, said carriage when dropped being travelled in the direction of conveyor movement; means for automatically raising the carriage during its travel with the conveyor to an intermediate position wherein the punch and knife no longer engage the strip, the carriage at said intermediate position ceasing to travel with the conveyor; and means for automatically returning the carriage to its starting position after its travel with the conveyor has ceased.

8. Apparatus for cutting into sections a long strip of material of indefinite length emerging from a strip-fabricating machine, including a conveyor for carrying the strip away from the machine; a knife for severing the strip; a carrier for the knife, including a carriage mounted above the conveyor and movable both vertically and in the direction of conveyor movement; a latch for holding the carriage in a raised starting position; an arm mounted on the conveyor for tripping the latch when the conveyor has moved a predetermined amount to allow the carriage to drop so that the knife .carried thereby severs the strip; means engaging the arm on the conveyor for causing the carriage when in dropped position to travel with the conveyor; a cam and roller for automatically raising the carriage during its travel with the conveyor, to a position wherein the travel-causing means is disengaged from the arm on the conveyor; and means including a coil spring engaging the carriage for automatically returning the latter to its starting position after the travel-causingmeans has been disengaged.

9. Apparatus for performing operations on a long strip of material of indefinite length emerging from a source of supply, including a conveyor for carrying the strip away from the supply; a tool for performing operations on the strip; a carrier for the tool, including a carriage mounted above the conveyor and movable both vertically and in the direction of conveyor movement; a latch for holding the carriage in a raised starting position; means movable with the conveyor for tripping the latch to allow the carriage to drop so that the tool carried thereby operates on the strip; means for causing the carriage when'in dropped position to travel with the conveyor; means for automatically raising the carriage during its travel with the conveyor, to a position wherein it is no longer caused to travel with the conveyor; and means for automatically returning the carriage to its startin position after its travel with the conveyor has ceased.

10. Apparatus for severing in a single operation a plurality of sections from a long strip of material of indefinite length emerging from a source of supply, including a continuous conveyor for carrying the strip away from the supply; a plurality of knives; a carrier mounting the knives for conjoint operation, said carrier including a carriage mounted above the conveyor and movable both vertically and in the direction of conveyor movement; means operable by the conveyor for holding the carriage in a raised starting position and for dropping the carriage after the conveyor has moved a predetermined amount, so that the knives sever sections of the strip, said carriage when dropped being travelled in the direction of conveyor movement; means for automatically raising the carriage during its travel with the conveyor to an intermediate position wherein the knives no longer engage the strip, the carriage at said intermediate position ceasing to travel with the conveyor; and means for automatically returning the carriage to its starting position after its travel with the conveyor has ceased.

11. Apparatus for performing operations on a long strip of material of indefinite length emerging from a source of supply, including a conveyor for carrying the strip away from the supply; a tool for performing operations on the strip; a carrier for the tool, including a carriage mounted above the conveyor and movable both vertically and in the direction of conveyor movement; an operating member attached to the carriage; a cam 'mounted to move with the conveyor, for engaging the operating member to hold the 'carriage in a raised starting position, said cam being shaped to permit the carriage to drop after the conveyor has moved an extent so that the tool operates on the strip; means engaging the said operating member for causing the carriage when dropped to travel with the conveyor; means for automatically raising the carriage during its travel with the'conveyor, 'to a position wherein it is nolonger caused to travel with the conveyor; and means for automatically returning the carriage to its starting position after its travel with the conveyor hasceased. I

12-. Apparatusfor performing repeated operations" on' a long strip of material of indefinite length emerging from a source of supply, including a continuous conveyor for carrying the strip away from the supply; a tool for performing 1 operation on'the strip; a carrier for the tool, including a carriage mounted above the conveyor and movable both vertically, and horizontally in the direction of conveyor movement; an

arm fastened to the carriage for controlling its movement; a plurality of aligned tracks carried by the conveyor for consecutively engaging the arm during operation of the conveyor to hold the carriage in raised position, said tracks at their ends being spaced so that the carriage may drop at said spaces to enable the tool carried thereby to operate on the strip, and said tracks having driving surfaces for engaging the arm when the carriage i in dropped position to cause the latter to travel with the conveyor; means for automatically raising the carriage during its travel with the conveyor, to a position wherein the arm no longer engages a driving surface, so that the 55 carriage is released and free for horizontal return movement; and means for automatically returning the carriage when released to its raised starting position, the carriage being prevented from dropping during such return by engagement of the arm with one of said tracks.

13. The invention as defined in claim 4 in which the conveyor has blocks on which the strip is carried, the blocks being spaced apart and arranged so that the cutting tool in cutting and passing through the strip may enter a space between two adjacent blocks while the'strip adjacent its cut edges is: being supported by the blocks.

14. The invention as defined in claim 4 in which there is a shear bar extending transversely over the conveyor at the point where the cutting tool cuts the strip, the latter passing over the shear bar so that it is supported thereby for cutting.

15. Apparatus for performing operations on a long strip of material of indefinite length emerging from a source of supply; including a conveyor belt for carrying the strip away from the supply; a plurality of blocks secured to the belt in spaced relation, for supporting the strip; a tool for op-- erating on the strip; means for operatively mounting the tool abov the strip, said means comprising a tool carrier, at slide'connected to the carrier, and a pivot connected to the slide whereby the tool may be moved toward the strip to engage same, and may be travelled with the strip during such engagement; tracks on the conveyor belt for engaging the tool carrier to support the latter and tool in a raised starting position during the carriage to its starting position after it has reached said predetermined raised position.

16. The invention as defined inclaim 15 in which the tool comprises a knife for severing the strip, the knife extending into the spaces between the belt blocks when the strip is -severed,, and-in which corresponding tracks and blocksionthe belt are respectively secured together in predetermined relation so that anaccurately located space exists under the strip for the knife edge each time: the tool carrier isv dropped.

17:. Apparatus for performing operations on a long strip of material of indefinite length emerge ingfrom a source of supply, including a conveyor for'rcarrying the stripaway from'the supply at a predetermined speed; a. tool for performing operations on the strip; a, carrier for the tool, includinga carriage mounted above the-conveyor andmovable both vertically and in the direction of conveyonmovement; means operable by the conveyor;:for holding the carriage in a raised startingposition and for drop-ping the carriage after the conveyor hasmoved a predetermined amount,.so that the tool operates on the strip;

means independent of the conveyor for causing the carriage whendropped to travel with theconveyor' at 'said predetermined speed; means for automatically raising the carriage during its travel with the conveyor, to an ntermediate position wherein the tool no longer engages the strip of material; means for automatically rendering inoperative the carriage-travelling means when the carriage reaches said intermediate position; and means for automatically returning the carriageto its starting position after the carriagetravellingmeans has been rendered inoperative.

18. The invention as defined in claim 17 in which the means for causing the" carriage when dropped to travel with the conveyor comprises a source of motive power, variable gearing between saidsource and the carriage, a clutch connected with said gearing and means for causing the clutch to be engaged in response-to dropping of the carriage, andin which the means for renderinginoperative the carriage-travelling means includes means for causing the said-clutch tobe disengaged;

19. The inventionras defined in claim 2 in which there are means including parallel slides-on 'each side of the conveyonfor mounting the carriage for travel with the conveyor, and in-which'there is gearing, including racksand pinions, for causingsimultaneousmovement of the slides to prevent their binding.

' REX L. HALLMAN.

REFERENGES CITED The following references are of file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS record the Yoder Nov.. 10, 1942 

